5 Free Agent Defensemen Toronto Maple Leafs Should Target
The Toronto Maple Leafs have five defensemen signed to the main roster for next season.
General manager Brad Treliving needs to fill at least two defense spots this off-season, probably more.
Whether he fills those spots through free agency or by calling up defense prospects, we will have to wait and see. His top priority right now is finding the Leafs a new head coach.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have plenty of free-agent options this summer. There is a good mix of offensive, puck-moving defensemen and some hard-hitting defensive defensemen. Brad Treliving could target one of each. Fans shouldn't be surprised if Treliving targets defensemen he already knows.
Let's hope Treliving lands a better defenseman than John Klingberg, who he acquired last summer. The Klingberg signing turned out to be a disaster. Klingberg only helped the team by allowing them to use his salary on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). Treliving needs to hit the jackpot this summer to help ease the pain from last season.
Depending on how the free-agent market is come July 1st, the Leafs might be able to only land one free-agent defenseman of his choice. If that is indeed the case, Treliving has a couple of options from the Marlies he could look at.
It will all depend on what exactly the Leafs are looking for. Hopefully, the Leafs will have hired their new head coach before free agency starts. The new coach's input will surely be helpful in making those player decisions.
Brandon Montour
Brandon Montour could be the right-shooting defenseman for the top defense pair that the Leafs have needed for years. He could be the perfect partner for Morgan Rielly. Montour has a combination of offensive skills and is a heavy hitter. His only weakness is giveaways, but hopefully, those lessen by pairing up with Rielly.
Montour registered eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 66 games this season. He also registered 67 blocked shots and 104 hits. Over the past two seasons, Montour has averaged over 23 minutes of ice time a game.
He should be able to slide into the Leafs top defense pair with no problem. Montour has a career total of 66 goals and 186 assists for 252 points in 520 games over eight seasons. (All stats from hockey-reference.com)
One important stat to point out is Montour's 50 power-play points over the last two seasons. Adding him to the Leafs power play could solve their power-play struggles. He also has a good amount of playoff experience.
Montour has recorded 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 67 playoff games. He is still battling in the 2024 NHL playoffs with the Florida Panthers, meaning this stat could change.
Montour is 30 years old and coming off a deal with a $3.5 million salary cap hit. Acquiring Montour will not be cheap as he will be looking for a multi-year contract and one last big payday.
A good bet is that he will want $5 million a season or higher. The Leafs can afford it, but they will need to spend wisely elsewhere. (Salary cap info from capfriendly.com)
Sean Walker
Sean Walker is a 29-year-old right-shooting defenseman who could help the Leafs on their top defense pair if they're unable to sign Montour.
He could be a good fit as Morgan Rielly's defense partner. Walker is offensively gifted, but also blocks shots and hits. His takeaways/giveaways ratio was much improved this season, with 41 takeaways compared to 25 giveaways.
Walker registered ten goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 81 games this season, split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche.
He also registered 127 blocked shots and 118 hits. Walker averaged over 19 minutes of ice time a game this season. He should be able to handle being on the Leafs top defense pair with no problem. Walker has a career total of 26 goals and 70 assists for 96 points in 313 games over six seasons.
Adding Walker could help the Leafs power play. The Avalanche haven't used him on the power play much, but the Leafs could benefit from having him on theirs.
The Leafs might have or should have, a different-looking power play this season under a new head coach. Depending on the coach and the type of power play he intends to use, Walker could be a good fit.
Walker is coming off a deal with a $2.65 million salary cap hit. He will likely want a raise in what could be his last chance at a big payday. A multi-year deal with a price tag of around $4 million is likely what the Leafs would need to offer.
Nikita Zadorov
Nakita Zadorov is a 29-year-old left-shooting defenseman who could help the Leafs by bolstering their second defense pairing.
He can play both right and left sides. Zadorov averages 18 minutes a night and uses his big body to wear down the opponent. He is more of the stay-at-home style of defenseman, so it would be wise to pair him with a puck-moving defense partner.
Zadorov registered six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 75 games this season, split between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. He also registered 68 blocked shots and 177 hits. He is very well known to Leafs GM Brad Treliving from his time with the Flames. That might make signing him easier. Zadorov has a career total of 47 goals and 99 assists for 146 points in 642 games.
Adding Zadorov would help the Leafs maintain a physical blueline, especially if Joel Edmundson or Ilya Lyubushkin leave in free agency. He is a huge upgrade over those guys.
Losing both of those defensemen is not ideal for the Leafs depth, but they can't afford to have either of them playing as high in the lineup as Lyubushkin was playing.
If one or both of them leave, the Leafs would become much less physical. Zadorov could fill that need as well as help out in the playoffs. He has four goals and three assists for seven points in nine playoff games for the Canucks as they look to beat the Edmonton Oilers and advance to the Conference Finals.
Zadorov is coming off a deal with a $3.75 million salary cap hit. He will easily earn $5 million or more in the free-agent market, but maybe Treliving can convince him to take a little less. We'll see what happens starting on July 1st, 2024.
Joel Edmundson
Joel Edmundson is a 30-year-old left-shooting defenseman who could give the Leafs solid depth if they fail to acquire any of the previously mentioned defensemen.
He can play both right and left sides. Edmundson averages 17 to 20 minutes a night and could be used effectively on the Leafs third defense pairing.
He is a stay-at-home defenseman, so pairing him with a puck-moving defense partner would be a good idea. He has a habit of giving the puck away when he's left exposed, so he needs the right partner.
Edmundson is not a point producer, but he did manage to register a goal and five assists for 6 points in 53 games this season, split between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also registered 65 blocked shots and 80 hits. Leafs GM Brad Treliving brought Edmundson in at the trade deadline to give the Leafs a physical presence in the playoffs.
He didn't look too out of place, so I wouldn't be shocked if Treliving tried to re-sign Edmundson. He has a career total of 29 goals and 81 assists for 110 points in 530 games.
Edmundson is coming off a deal with a $3.5 million salary cap hit. This is extremely expensive for a bottom-of-the-lineup player. Expect him to take a pay-cut or play for another team next season.
Ilya Lyubushkin
Ilya Lyubushkin is a 30-year-old right-shooting defenseman who could give the Leafs solid depth if they choose to re-sign him.
He can play both right and left sides but prefers the right. Lyubushkin averaged just over 17 minutes a night this season and could play throughout the Leafs blueline, but is clearly suited to be a sixth or seventh defenseman.
He is a stay-at-home defenseman, so pairing him with a puck-moving defense partner would be a good idea. He's played well with Morgan Reilly during his two stints with the Leafs, but the Leafs failed to advance past the first round in either year he was on the team.
Lyubushkin, like Edmundson, is not a point producer. However, he did manage to register eight assists in 74 games this season, split between the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
He also registered 168 blocked shots and 176 hits. It's his physicality that makes him attractive for the Leafs. He was brought in at the trade deadline to give the Leafs a physical presence in the playoffs.
With seven blocked shots and 29 hits in seven games, Lyubushkin delivered as advertised. Fans shouldn't be surprised if Treliving tried to re-sign the player known as The Russian Bear. He has a career total of five goals and 42 assists for 47 points in 353 games.
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Lyubushkin is coming off a deal with a $2.75 million salary cap hit. This is a lot of money for a depth player, however.